Assessment of genetic diversity based on agro-morphological traits and issr molecular markers in einkorn wheat (Triticum monococcum ssp. Monococcum) landraces populations from Turkey

Number of pages (xv + 85) In this study, it was aimed to investigate genetic diversity, population genetic structure, and genetic differentiation in 48 einkorn landraces wheat (Triticum monococcum ssp. monococcum) populations grown in farmer fields in Bolu and Kastamonu. For this purpose, seven agro-morphological traits and morphological variation were investigated, while genetic variation was investigated at the molecular level with ISSR molecular markers. As agro-morphological traits, leaf weight (mg), coleoptile length (cm), root number (n), root length (cm), fresh root weight (mg), dry root weight (mg) were examined. Genetic variation was evaluated in the obtained morphometric data by using coefficient of variation, ANOVA and principal coordinates analysis statistical analysis methods. According to descriptive statistics, the minimum values for agro-morphological traits ranged between 0.37 and 74.48 for RL and LW traits, while the maximum values ranged between 1.70 and 426.90 for CL and LW traits, respectively. According to coefficient of variation values, the highest value was observed in FRW as 52.09%, while the lowest value was observed in LW as 8.9%. According to Pearson's correlation values between agro-morphological traits, the highest significant correlation value was 0.910 (p <0.01 significant level r = 0.00), the lowest significant correlation value was 0.296 (p <0.05 significant level r = 0.04) between LW and RL. PCA results revealed the variation in the two main components as 76.93%. A clustering analysis was performed with Euclidean square using linkage (between groups) according to morphometric data. Einkorn local wheat populations were randomly clustered into two main groups. According to the dendrogram, it was observed that agro-morphological traits were not sufficient to differentiate the populations. For molecular characterization, data obtained with ISSR primers were analyzed with the population genetics analysis program PopGene (ver. 1.32). According to PopGene results, the mean number of alleles, the mean number of effective alleles and average genetic diversity values were calculated as na = 2, nea = 1.33 and h = 0.13, respectively. The highest number of polymorphic bands were determined as 22 (73%) in Bolu-Seben population, while the lowest polymorphic band was determined as 15 (50%) in Kastamonu-İhsangazi population. Genetic differentiation between populations (63%) was observed at significantly higher levels as well as within populations (37%). It was observed that the level of genetic diversity in einkorn populations was still quite high. Among the agro-morphological traits, germination power, root number and coleoptile length appeared to be reliable traits. It was determined that the use of morphological characters alone for genetic diversity in populations is not sufficient to determine the differentiation between populations and population genetic structure. For this reason, it was concluded that in the studies of genetic diversity, population genetic structure and genetic differentiation in populations, molecular characterization as well as morphological traits will produce more reliable results.